GB197301A - Improvements in electric battery cells - Google Patents

Abstract

197,301. Soc. Anon. le Carbone. May 4, 1922, [Convention date]. Electrodes; air supplicd; arrangement.- A cell comprises a carbon electrode a extending upwardly into the atmosphere and surrounded by a porous conducting substance b such as an agglomerate of wood charcoal, the upper surface of which is also in contact with the atmosphere. The part of the surface of the porous body b which is liable to come ir.to contact with the electrolyte is covered with a colloidal substance c which prevents the passage of water but allows the gases generated in the cell to pass through. The colloidal substance may consist of fecula cooked in water or of gelatinous silica or fish glue. The covering c extends downwardly at c<1> round the carbon a, leaving the lower end a<1> in contact with the electrolyte which may consist of a solution of ammonium chloride. Instead of the downward extension c<1> of the colloidal substance c the carbon may be provided with an insulating covering. The second electrode consists of a zinc cylinder f. In the working of the battery zinc chloride collects at the bottom of the cotainer and it is stated that a short-circuited couple is produced by the zinc chloride layer at the bottom, the supernatant ammonial liquid and the carbon electrode whereby ammonium chloride is regenerated and zinc precipitated on the lower end a<1> of the carbon. In a modified construction the lower end of the carbon dips into a layer of mercury g, Fig. 2, at the bottom of the container.